Judges Really Enjoyed Solaris Hit

The three judges for the competition – Jane Ayers, Janet Foy and Mariel Barnett had many good things to say about Solaris Hit, a Hannoverian mare by Sandro Hit out of Great Rubina. In the Markel/USEFYoung Horse competition, the panel of judges gives comments on the ride immediately afterward, which provides riders with immediate feedback.

The judges called Solaris Hit, bred by H. Gisselmann, a “light, elegant, elastic type of horse that has a lot of natural talent.” They liked her trot for its natural cadence and expression, but noted that the mare needed “a bit more self-carriage.” Those moments when Solaris Hit was in self-carriage the judges called “absolutely wonderful.” Hence, they encouraged Knollman to allow the mare to carry herself and to avoid helping her.

The canter was praised for “being a lovely, uphill gait with a lot of natural balance and scope.” The judges praised the medium canter for being very straight and being “nicely uphill for a five-year-old.” They also felt the mare showed the ability to collect well in her downward transitions and in the simple changes.

It was in the walk that judges noticed the most tension in Solaris Hit, telling Knollman that in their view the mare appears rather tense in the walk when on the bit and needed more activity and reach from behind. There was a difference, however, when the reins were lengthened and the judges commented that “once the reins lengthened, she was quite good in her rhythm. And she had much more ground cover.”

Overall, Knollman was told that Solaris Hit “has a wonderful work ethic and a very correct start with her training.”

Second in the Five-Year-Old Markel/USEF Young Horse competition was Roccoca WF, a Hannoverian mare by Rienzi out of Turtletaubchen. The mare was ridden by Verena Stock and is owned and bred by Vanessa Carlson of Claremore, Oklahoma. The pair’s final score was 73.20 percent. In third was Anna Burtell with her Dutch gelding Valentino, by Kennedy out of Funera, with a score of 71.60 percent.